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Du Plessis to honour teammate with medal

Bismarck du Plessis will give his European Challenge Cup medal to teammate Wiaan Liebenberg after Liebenberg was ruled out of the final due to injury.

Du Plessis said that Liebenberg deserved the accolade after putting in six Man of the Match performances this season.

The Springbok hooker told EPC Rugby: “I'm quite a sentimental guy, and there is a certain guy, Wiaan Liebenberg, who played all of our games but couldn't play the final, so my medal will be going to him.

"He was Man of the Match six times for us this season but he couldn't play tonight.”

Du Plessis further added that he was proud of his team for their composure shown in a tough match which Montpellier won 26-19 against Harlequins.

"In the first-half they didn't get into our 22 once, and that was one thing we wanted to do, starve them of field position," he said.

"We knew they had string ball carriers and strong backs who could make magic. So our plan was not to let them into our 22 because their international players can score from any opportunity."

Montpellier's first ever European crown which they secured on Saturday night means that they have earned a place in next season's Champions Cup. Come the end of next season, Du Plessis will be hoping that he will be waving about another winners' medal with Liebenberg by his side.